Nashvillians Help Revive Fame Studios
Muscle Shoals, Alabama’s renowned Fame Studios, its publishing company, and record label are experiencing a revival. Hit Nashville songwriter Brad Crisler has signed with House of Fame Publishing, where Music Row veteran Steve Williams has been hired on as Creative Director.
For Crisler, it is a return the publishing company where he had early success. His credits include cuts by Tim McGraw, Brooks & Dunn, Rascal Flatts and Kenny Chesney, as well as the hits “Sweet Southern Comfort” (Buddy Jewell) and “Hillbilly Deluxe” (Brooks & Dunn).
Williams brings his two decades of experience to Fame, including time at Arista Nashville and later as Creative Director at Sea Gayle Music.
Throughout the 1960s, artists that recorded at founder Rick Hall’s Fame Studios included Aretha Franklin, Little Richard, and Otis Redding. Decades of hits followed with The Osmonds, Bobbie Gentry, Jerry Reed, and Shenandoah laying down tracks at the southern soul studio. Since its inception, Fame has been involved in projects selling over 350 million copies worldwide.
Williams can be reached at 603 East Avalon Avenue, Muscle Shoals, AL 35661; steve@fame2.com.
Actually Fame has been quite active not only in the 60’s, but in the ,70’s,80’s,90’s and 00’s……..received over 40 ASCAP, BMI or SESAC awards since the mid 80’s in Nasvhille, for country records, the most recent last year at the ascap awards where they recieved 2 awards for Relentless (Jason Aldean) and Learning How To Bend (Gary Allan). The company has also recieved several song of the year awards from NSAI, ASCAP,American Songwriter Magazine and had songs win Grammy awards for Pop and Country Song of the Year. Thanks for the press, though…….
having said that, SO excited about the recent addition of Brad and Steve to our team and the amazing things about to happen because of their efforts. Also, Dylan Leblanc is making major waves with his new Cd (and LP) released on Rough Trade Records, all over the trades this week and Jason Isbell and the 400 unit have been in the studio working on their new release. Gary Nichols has recently joined the amazing band the Steeldrivers, as lead singer and their CD is scheduled to be released in September, along with other great things too numerous to mention………..the 10’s are gonna be HUGE……:))
I live just down the road a bit (Decatur), but I’m aware of the Fame legacy. I remember visiting the studio when it was upstairs (over a corner drug store, I think) in Florence. They had an Eico tape recorder and quilts hanging everywhere for sound control! I actually managed to get in the studios at the current Shoals location in the late ’60s or early ’70s. I have a couple of photos taken in Studio B. Since I’m trying to start writing again, I’m glad to know you guy’s are still “pushing the envelope” over there.